Solomon Harman
1851-1937

Solomon Harman Jr.

Debbie Reynolds' Great-Grandfather Solomon E. "Sol" Harman, Jr. - circa 1880.
Birth 18 AUG 1851 • Mouth of Seneca, Pendleton Co., WV
Death 24 OCT 1937 • Albuquerque, Bernalillo Co., NM

Solomon Harman was born on August 18, 1851, in Pendleton County, West Virginia. He lived in Topeka, Kansas, in 1900 and moved to Holt, Colorado, sometime between 1900 and 1910. He died on October 24, 1937, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, at the age of 86, and was buried there.

A letter from Harper Harman, son of Solomon, completes the record of that generation.

Solomon Harman, my father, was born in Mouth of Seneca, a small village in Pendleton Co., W Va. August 18, 1851. Died in Albuquerque, New Mexico, October 24, 1937, age 86, buried in Fairview Memorial Park, Albuquerque.

Sarah Catherine Harper Harman, my mother was born in Circleville, Pendleton County, West Virginia, March 29, 1853. Died in E. Las Vegas, New Mexico, Sept. 18, 1896, age 43, buried in the Old Topeka Cemetery, Topeka, Kansas.

Children:

Louella Harman, born in Petersburg, W. Va., June 6, 1872 died in Topeka, KS March 28, 1891. Buried in Old Topeka Cemetery, Topeka, KS. Unmarried.

Maude Harman, born in Petersburg, W Va. March 22, 1874. Died in E. Las Vegas, NM, March 14, 1896. Buried in Old Topeka Cemetery, Topeka, KS. Unmarried.

Bertha Harman, born at Taylor’s Mills, Grant County, W Va., Dec 22, 1876. Died June 18, 1957, at Albuquerque, NM. Buried in Fairview Memorial Park, Albuquerque. Married Frank R. Williams in 1899. Two children: Merle K Williams b Feb 10, 1900, res Amarillo, Tx. Norma Williams Cooper, res. Albuquerque.

Sedgwick Harman born in Circleville, Pendleton Co., W. Va. April 27, 1879. Killed in a railroad accident at Bond, NM., Nov. 6, 1901. Buried in Masonic Cemetery Las Vegas, NM. Unmarried.

Owen Harman, born April 1, 1894 on the Harman Farm in Valley Falls, Jefferson Co., Ks. Died 1951, buried in El Paso, TX. Married Maxie Boone Dykeman, in Canadian, TX 1909…

Harper Harman born May 11, 1884 on the Harman Farm near Valley Falls, KS. Married Rebecca McKenzie June 3, 1913, in Las Vegas, NM. Married Alice Loisetta Stewart on April 4, 1942. Harper died Feb. 2, 1971 at Winslow Hospital, Winslow Ariz. Buried Desert View Cemetery.

Irving Harman born Petersburg, W. Va., June 16, 1881. Died at Oak Creek, Colo July 25, 1954 buried near Garland at Colorado Springs, Colo., June 18, 1903. Married Goldie Saulsbury, Dec. 24, 1929 at Pueblo, Colo.

Two years and nine months before he died, Sol wrote this letter to his (unknown) cousin:

1/7/1935 South 6h St., Albuquerque, N.M.

My Dear Cousin:

My mother was born in Highland Co., (W. Va.). I was born in the old Harman Hills settlement Pendleton Co., Va. August 10, 1851. The first 9 years of my life was spent on the old homestead where I was born. In the fall of 1860 the family moved to Randolph Co., near where my father owned mill property and a grazing farm. Uncle Jonas, Joshua, Reuben, N.oah, Solomon, and Isaac; Solomon was my father. I can remember seeing all my uncles except Joshua; he passed away before my time. At the time our family moved to Randolph Co., there were eleven Harman families living along old North Mountain range, as follows: Cous. Joel, Uncle Issac, cous. John, cous. Thomas, Uncle Samuel (your Grandfather), cous. Joshua and Simeon, cous. Amos and Isaac, Bro David and Uncle Noah. I of these remember Uncle Samuel, your Grandfather, very well. He was deeply religious; I heard him preach on different occasions. I have no recollection of seeing Uncle Andrew and family; they located in Ohio before the Civil War. As to the lives, habits, and characteristics of these old pioneers, you know probably as much as I do. I was only yrs. old when the civil war commenced which made many changes in the lives of the people. Their old timers lived well, had plenty to eat and warm clothes. They were strictly honest and orthodox. They had few amusements, an race, shooting match, fight or two was about all. Apple brandy was as common as buttermilk and sold for about the same price, so common and easy to get that no one drank it to excess. They were moral and law abiding, uneducated and superstitious. . .planted their crops in the sign of the zodiac. They were socialistic to the extent that they believed and practiced cooperation (sic). The first wheat field that ripened, the neighbors gathered and helped harvest it. If the house burned down, the neighbors helped build another, etc.

From Yesteryears April 1990
“The Harmon Story” by Genevieve Rains Marhill; edited by Donna Mae Ward

Debbie Reynolds' Great-Grandfather, Solomon E. "Sol" Harman, Jr., in 1932, Akron, OH.
Birth 18 AUG 1851 • Mouth of Seneca, Pendleton Co., WV
Death 24 OCT 1937 • Albuquerque, Bernalillo Co., NM

A year and five months before he died, Sol wrote this family history for his (unknown) cousin:

5/3/1936

My ancestors on my father’s side came to this country from Holland, on my mother’s side they came from Scotland. Have no record farther back than my grandparents. My father’s name was Solomon Harman. My mother’s name was Elizabeth Harmon, native Virginians and not related. To this union were born eleven children. Nine sons and two daughters as follows and ages at death.:

Noah Harman, 69, died at his home near Valley Falls, Kan. In the year 1900 (note another source gave the date as 1897).

David Harman, 78, died in W. Va.

Mary Ann Harman Raines, 78, died at her home in Williamson, Kan.

Rev. Asa Harman, 37, died at his home in Pendleton Co., W Va (small pox was the cause of death).

Benjamin Harman, 18, murdered by Rebel soldiers in Randolph Co., W. Va. Nov 6, 1861.

Joseph Harman, 63, died in St. Petersburg, Fla., and was buried in Elkins, W. Va. (twin of Benjamin)

Jesse Harman, 77, died at his home at Harman, W. Va.

Emily Jane Harman Teter, 80, died at her home in Tucker co., W Va.

Solomon Harman (living Feb 12, 1936).

Uncle Jonas Harman died in Crawford Co., Mo age 98.

My grandfather’s name was Isaac Harman. My grandmother’s name was Dr. Christina Henkle (1763-1836), native Viriginians. To this union were born 8 children, six sons and two daughters. Jonas, Joshua, Reuben, Noah, Solomon and Isaac, Christena and Rachel. On my mother’s side my grandfather was George Harmon. My grandmother’s maiden name was Jane Redmond. To this union were born six children, two sons and four daughters, Andrew, Samuel, Nancy, Jane, Elisabeth (my mother) and Mary.

On your mother’s side your grandfather was Simeon Harper. Your grandmother’s maiden name was Mary Ann Warner. To this union was born 8 children, four sons and four daughters. John, Adam, William Perry, Henry Franklin, Sarah Catharine (your grandmother), Susan and Eva.

Your great grandfather was Capt. Eli Harper, a Captain in the war of 1812, He was the father of three sons and four daughters. John, Phillip and Simeon (your grandfather) Eva and Jane. I do not remember the names of the other daughter. (sg) Sol Harmon, eMay 5, 1935

(NOTE: Mary, Phoebe, Elizabeth were daughters, per Pendleton Co., WVa history)

"WAR IS HELL"
(Sol's Civil War Memories for unknown cousin):

3/8/35 South 6th Street, Albuquerque, NM.

My Dear Cousin:

I am a poor letter writer – had poor opportunities to secure an education. During the Civil War when I was growing up we had no schools. I spent less than six months of my life in a school room. What little learning I have, I secured by my own efforts. Now in regard to the cooperative methods of those old pioneers in harvesting their grain etc…no mowing machines, reapers, self binders, threshing machines, hay rakes, etc. Everything was done by hand. The sickle and cradle was used to harvest the grain, the scythe to mow the hay and the flail to thresh out the grain from the bosom of old mother earth. They obtained a living by hard knocks. It is a wonder to think of the amount of labor performed by those old pioneers, men and women; patiently they toiled year in and year out and were comparatively happy. They had preaching occasionally at their log school houses or at their homes. The only church building that I remember was the Lutheran Church located on the banks of the North Fork river opposite the old Moses Harper home, which was burned down by confederate soldiers during the war. The old fashioned camp meetings and revivals were popular in those prewar days. I remember going with my mother to a camp meeting held in a grove near the old Jacob Phares house. I was 5 or 6 yrs of age; and people had gathered there from far and near. Many covered wagons and tents. I had never seen so many people at one time. The Preacher was a very large man, talked awful loud about God and the the Devil , took off his coat and turned red in his face. I thought he was mad and wondered why some one did not go up and fight him. These revivals generally continued for 2 or 3 weeks. We had 3 months of school each year, the old subscription school system, each scholar was charged “so much” pr. Month and the teacher boarded around among the patrons of the school. We did not have many books those days; our library consisted of a copy of the Bible, a copy of Aesops Fables, a Hagerstown Almanac plus a few school books. Daily newspapers were unknown at that time. In the fall of 1860 there was a Presidential election and soon the war clouds began to gather and cast their awful shadows over the homes of these peaceful people. I can remember hearing my father talking with the neighbors. There was much said about secession, rebellion, slavery, the Union etc. Soon the people were divided neighbor against neighbor, father against son and brother against brother.

I can remember hearing the cannonading at the battle of Bull Run. Then one day he rebels raided our they were released another raid was made on our home. This happened early on the morning of Nov. 6th, 1861. It was not yet daylight. The crack of a gun and my mother’s scream awakened me. My brother Ben was shot down without warning. He died the following night; was only 18 yrs of age. I can remember John Harman was shot and killed a few miles east of our home. His body was brought to our house and prepared for burial. Capt. Absalom H. Nelson was ambushed a short distance from our home. Mother and I were the first to reach the body. My father made the coffin. Matthew Pennington as shot and killed in his cornfield at the old Sol Pennington home on Dry Fork. Capt Sampson Elza was shot and killed at the old Isaac Roy home on Dry Fork. A Union scout was taken sick and left at our home until he was able to join his command at Beverly. My father went with him. On the middle mountain they were waylaid and fired upon. The soldier was killed and father was shot through his clothes but escaped uninjured. I can remember the day when Cousin Eli Harman, Capt. Ivan Harper and his brother Perry were killed at the old Jesse Harper hoe on Seneca, the day that Cousin Joshua Harman was killed at the Michael Mouse home on North Fork. The battle was in the Judy Gap where John Swadley and Henry Mowry were killed. The battle was at your Grandfathers fate where Jacob Harman and my brother Sam were wounded and Wilson Wesstfall, John Hartman and Wilson Summerfield were killed by his nephew De Witt Harper who in turn was shot and killed by his cousin Perry Harper. The wounding of John Snider, the killing of the Rev. Daniel Ketterman; the execution of your Uncle Amby Harman at Harrisonburg, shot off his coffin by firing squad on a framed up charge of desertion. Nicholas Ketterman and John Mick met the same fate a Richmond and other tragedies. As Genl. Sherman said “War is Hell” ….

As ever your Cousin, Sol. Harman

Excuse the errors and mistakes.

From Yesteryears April 1990
“The Harmon Story” by Genevieve Rains Marhill; edited by Donna Mae Ward